Painter and Painting: Conversations with Mehmet Güleryüz

Within the scope of the Mehmet Güleryüz retrospective “Painter and Painting”, Istanbul Modern hosts a conversation series that focus on Güleryüz’s generous quest for expression.

Past Event

A Talk With Mehmet Güleryüz and Levent Çalıkoğlu

Thursday, July 2, 2015, 18.30

The exhibition titled “Painter and Painting: Mehmet Güleryüz Retrospective” opened at Istanbul Modern in January and has been extended due to the overwhelming interest it received. At the exhibition – open to visitors until July 26 – Mehmet Güleryüz’s new work titled “A Tribute to Titian: Marsyas and Apollo” that the artist produced during the retrospective will also be presented to visitors. Parallel to the extension of the exhibition and the addition of the new work, a talk with exhibition curator Levent Çalıkoğlu and Mehmet Güleryüz will be held at Istanbul Modern on Thursday, July 2, 2015.

Painting and Theater in the Footsteps of Mehmet Güleryüz

Thursday, May 28, 18.30

The conversation series held within the scope of the Mehmet Güleryüz retrospective “Painter and Painting” ends with a talk that focuses on the relationship between the visual arts and theater, which forms one of the bases of the artist’s interdisciplinary approach. In the event moderated by the Istanbul Modern Director Levent Çalıkoğlu, Mehmet Güleryüz, Müge Gürman, Seçkin Selvi, and Üstün Akmen will shed light on the transformations that took place in the field of theater, both in Turkey and the international scene, since the days of the Arena Theater Company where Mehmet Güleryüz began his carrier as a professional actor in the 1960s. Based on the similarities and differences between theater and painting, the conversation will also discuss the relationship between acting and other disciplines.

The Painter and His Books: Mehmet Güleryüz Book Signing

Thursday May 14, 18.30

A book signing by Mehmet Güleryüz will be held within the scope of his retrospective “Painter and Painting”. Mehmet Güleryüz will meet with art lovers to talk about the catalogue of the exhibition “Painter and Painting”, which sheds light on the art and works of Güleryüz, as well as the new editions of his books “Güldüğüme Bakma” [Don’t Be Fooled by My Smile]

and “Resmigeçit” [Parade], printed by İşbank Cultural Publications. Beginning with a conversation with the artist, the event will be held in the biography area at the entrance of the exhibition and will continue with the signing of the books.

The Painter as an Art Educator

Thursday, April 30, 18.30

The second event in the series of conversations held within the “Painter and Painting” retrospective focus on Mehmet Güleryüz as an educator.

In the conversation, Güleryüz, who has embraced an interdisciplinary and experimental approach in art education as well, questions the painter’s identity as educator and discusses with art critic and academic Ahu Antmen and artist Ahmet Doğu İpek the intellectual and physical common denominators between the act of painting and the transmission of an experience. Besides his own studio, Güleryüz has also taught in many well-established institutions. Through concrete examples he will be in conversation with guests on alternative art education and the evolution of art education in Turkey from the time when he was a student at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts to the Bilsak Workshop where he taught between 1985-2000.

Painter And Painting: In Conversation With Mehmet Güleryüz And Levent Çalıkoğlu

Thursday, March 12, 18.30

In the first event of the series, Mehmet Güleryüz is in conversation with Istanbul Modern Director Levent Çalıkoğlu on the factors that are not always visible to the viewer but fundamentally influence the creation of a work of art. The conversation focuses on the rich urban memory present in Güleryüz’s art and the sociocultural elements that shape his multi-faceted approach: What are the positive and negative factors in the artist’s creation process? What does an artist see in his early period and how does this perspective change over time? Based on these questions, Güleryüz shares with the audience the behind-the-scenes of his works in the exhibition.